[Dixielandjazz] FW: Allen Toussaint/canonizations

[Charles Suhor]

Not to speak ill of the dead, but as a native Orleanian I’ve became skeptical about what has become a routine canonizing of N.O. figures, often elevating those who’d be ignored if they had been born in, say, Peoria. Toussaint was a fine talent within his realm, but if he was a significant innovator, I didn’t get that. I’m a great fan of “Mother-in-Law” and some other Toussaint songs. Yet, one of his biggest pop hits was “Java,” a piece of fluff infamously recorded by Al Hirt, himself better known for his legendary pyrotechnics than the true jazz talent I heard in combo settings. 

A similar worshipful obeisance was given to the many of the first generation jazz musicians who were resurrected at Preservation Hall in 1961. I wrote a article Down Beat on 1963 celebrating the Hall but expressing wonderment at the tendency to uncritically laud all the worthy elders as indispensable links in the history of jazz. One naif remarked breathlessly about the excellent clarinetist John Casimir, “Why, it may be decades before we understand what he’s doing!” Today’s Hall often combines revivalists with aging be-boppers who have become at ease with the early jazz repertoire and mix the modern with the traditional in their solos. Sometimes to good effect, I think, but the audience appears to be buying into myth of “authenticity.” 

Charlie

> On Nov 12, 2015, at 5:18 AM, Andy Ling <Andy.Ling at s-a-m.com> wrote:
> 
>> This is a name I wasn't familiar with, but some of you on the list with more
>> knowledge about New Orleans may know of him.  Pianist & singer Allen
>> Toussaint played a concert here in Madrid on the night of 9 November with
>> great acclaim, apparently, from the audience.  He shook hands & had photos
>> taken with the public, then took a taxi to his hotel. He suffered a heart
>> attack in the taxi, and later died in the hospital.
> 
> I spotted this a few days ago, very sad. He wasn't someone I was
> that familiar with until a few months ago. When I was looking at
> the song Singin' the Blues I came across his "The Bright Mississippi"
> album. Most of it is on YouTube and well worth a listen.
> 
> An example..
> 
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldeTAV9rgq8
> 
> And the BBC report of his death..
> 
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34779468
> 
> Enjoy
> 
> Andy Ling
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